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Consumers are almost 20 per cent more likely to print a digital coupon at 8.00am on a Wednesday than at any other time, according to a recent study by technology platform RevTrax.

The research found that Mondays and Tuesdays are the worst days to distribute digital coupons, in terms of the likelihood that consumers will print them.

The research revealed that between Monday and Friday, 8.00am to 10.00am and 12.00pm to 4.00pm is the busiest coupon download period.

Consumers are most likely to print their coupons while at work, either when they are checking their emails or during their lunch break.

Jonathan Treiber, co-founder and chief executive of RevTrax, said: 'The RevTrax day and time study is a big step in helping advertisers learn how to optimize the impact of digital media to drive more coupon prints.'

The report comes in the wake of a spate of controversies surrounding promotional discount websites such as Groupon.

This week a cake maker from Reading made headline news after she launched an ill-fated offer on daily-deals site Groupon. Rachel Brown offered a 75 per cent discount on 12 cupcakes, but underestimated the popularity of her deal, and more than 8,500 people signed up for the offer.

Brown lost on average £2.75 on each batch sold, and along with the added cost of more than £12,000 on staff that she had to call in to help, she was left more than out of pocket and lost a whole year's profits.